NEAH BAY — In the wake of one of the largest celebrations in Neah Bay history, Makah officials are assessing a festive and incident-free 2010 Tribal Canoe Journey.
Canoes from more than 50 Northwest tribes, bands and Canadian First Nations landed in Neah Bay on July 19 to kick off a week’s worth of festivities.
Close to 10,000 tribal members spent six days singing and dancing with the Makah in the culmination of the annual, tradition-rich canoe journey.
“I think it was an incredible success,” said Crystal Denney, Makah Tribal Journey coordinator.
“Whenever something happened that we weren’t planning on, or wasn’t incorporated in our plans, we adjusted immediately and it really became an issue no longer.”
Ron Peregrin, Clallam County undersheriff, said the deputies who provided backup to tribal police reported no major incidents.
That’s quite a feat considering the hordes of out-of-town guests.
The Makah prepared 7,500 meals on the first night of Tribal Journey and another 5,850 dinners on Saturday.
‘Few problems’
“It was actually a well-attended event with very few problems that were related to law enforcement,” Peregrin said, in his report to the three Clallam County commissioners on Tuesday.
Tribal Journey ends at a different tribe every year. The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe hosted it in 2005 — the only other time it was centered on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The Makah ended this year’s celebration with a lengthy protocol ceremony Saturday night into Sunday morning that featured a 28-foot-long whale replica built specifically for the event.
“The whale was just amazing in itself,” said Denney, who described the entire dance as “grand” and “breathtaking.”
As the 600 Makah dancers and 200 to 300 singers lined up before Saturday’s protocol, tribal members could sense an “overwhelming feeling of pride,” Denney said.
“Every Makah in the vicinity was there,” she said.
“Everyone was pumped up, hooping and hollering. You could feel that surge.”
“It was one of the proudest moments in Makah history.”
Months before the canoes arrives, the Makah assembled an executive committee with five subcommittees to plan and prepare for Tribal Journey. Denney said that preparation paid off.
Peregrin said tribal police made 46 arrests during the weeklong event, mostly drug and alcohol citations.
Deputies assisted the Makah and Lower Elwha tribal police, Port Angeles and Sequim police, the State Patrol and U.S. Border Patrol with traffic control. Deputies impounded seven vehicles.
“I don’t think we made any arrests ourselves, which speaks well to the conduct of the people that were at this event,” Peregrin said.
“Everybody was having a good time.”
A county incident command vehicle was staged at the Neah Bay Coast Guard station but never called into action.
The county activated its marine unit to assist the Makah and the Coast Guard with water safety. None of the canoes needed assistance as they landed in Neah Bay on July 19.
The Makah requested law enforcement and health department support from Clallam County and other agencies during the week.
“We joined together,” Peregrin said.
“The Makah really made a community effort out of this entire event.”
Jamye Wisecup, Clallam County emergency management program coordinator, said a fire hydrant burst during Tribal Journey, but the water tanks in Neah Bay stayed 4 feet above alert level.
“That speaks well to the water management of our guests and community members,” Denney said.
“They really managed the water well. That is important in itself because of the water situation we have here.”
Neah Bay is known for its water shortages in the late summer.
Makah gifts
The canoe pullers that traveled hundreds of miles in authentic, hand-carved canoes received gifts from the Makah, including blankets inscribed with the 2010 Tribal Journey logo and 350 cedar paddles crafted by Makah volunteers.
Clallam County’s Department of Heath and Human Services staffed two environmental health workers and one pubic health employee, department Director Iva Burks said.
County staffers said most of the health issues were relatively minor, like sunburns, heat exhaustion, cuts, scrapes and bruises.
Health officers reported no food violations or food-borne illnesses from the vendors that lined Bayview Avenue.
Denney said the community responded to the challenge of hosting the canoe journeys.
“It blows my mind how well the community did this together,” Denney said.
“It really took the entire community, kids 7 and 8 years old, to our elders 85 and older. Everyone did their part.
“This is going to be resonating in people’s minds for a very long time.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
